In the Stirrups - October 2015

IN THE STIRRUPSOctober 2015

WINA B E N T L E YO R I G I N A L S

D E L U X EG R O O M I N G

K I T

BURGHLEY 2015:All the news, interviews and results

READ OUR TRIEDAND TESTED

REVIEW

5 minutes with:

Carl Hester

Charlotte Dujardin

Jonelle Price

Lainey Ashker and more!

ConfidentHorsemanship -

Anne Gage

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WELCOME…Thanks for joining us for another issue of In the

Stirrups. Since our last issue a lot has happened

behind the scenes, with our Facebook page

reaching over 2.2 million people a month which is

wonderful news! This month we’ve caught up

with some of equestrians brightest stars and are

delighted to share our interviews with you. We

have new designs for our polo tops on the way as

well as other items to expand the range. The

competition season is slowing down but we still

have so much to look forward to this winter with

HOYS, Your Horse Live and Olympia still to

come! Stay safe

in the evenings

with the nights

rolling in earlier

and we hope

you enjoy the

latest issue!

Natasha

Dutch Olympic EventerTim Lips is in hot pursuitof the 2016 OlympicGames in Rio de Janeiro.Tim also won TeamBronze at the 2014 AlltechFEI World EquestrianGames Normandy.

Tim Lips

Daisy is a 17 year oldBritish Dressage rider. Fullof ambition, Daisy iscertainly on to watch forthe future.

Daisy Jackson

Patricia is The DressageTipster and founder ofCrystal System. Patriciaprovides us with usablereliable tips to improve allaspects of your dressagework.

Patricia Pitt

Marc is our eventphotographer and renownedfor his excellentphotography. When notphotographing horses, he isoften found in the MMAcage photographing actionimages. Look out for Marcsphotography!

Marc Moggridge

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS

Feature Page Number

Land Rover BurghleyHorse Trials 2015 7

5 minutes with: Jonelle Price 8

Tried and Tested:Bentley OriginalsDeluxe Brush Set 20

Fashion and Shopping 22

5 minutes with: Carl Hester 29

The Dressage Tipster 30

The Patten Standard 34

5 minutes with: Charlotte Dujardin 33

I N S I D E T H I S M O N T H S I S S U E :

See Page 18 See 6 See Page 30

COVER PHOTO CREDIT: Marc Moggridge - burghleyimages.photoshelter.com

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS

Anne Gage is a Clinician, RidingCoach, Horse Trainer and CertifiedProfessional Coach based inCanada. Anne focuses on themental and physical aspects of bothyou and your horse so you candevelop trust and respect whilebuilding confidence in each other.

Anne Gage

Magic is one of the Gentle CarouselTherapy Horses based in the USA.She is a specialised therapy horsewho brings comfort and happinessto people who are suffering illnessor trauma and is adept atrecognising those who need herskills most.

Magic

Hannah is a 17 yr old show jumperbased in the USA. Rising quicklywith her team of talented horses sheis also the creator of the PattenStandard. A new outlook and wayofthinking for people everywhere andwill definitely be one to watch for

Hannah Patten

Tyne Sigley is our permanentreview panellist has been riding foryears as well as being a qualifiedequine veterinary nurse. Betweenriding, grooming and expanding herknowledge on horses, she enjoysreading, walking and spending timewith her dog Chopper.

Tyne Sigley

www.inthestirrups.com

Don’t miss all of theaction fromLand Rover

Burghley HorseTrials 2015

Pages7-17

See Page 5 Back next month! See Page 34 See Page 20

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CONFIDENT HORSEMANSHIPWITH ANNE GAGE

HELP! MY HORSE FINDS ANY EXCUSE TO SPOOK!

“My horse is playing games with me!When my coach or friends ride him, heis so well behaved. Never puts a footwrong. But, when I ride him he findsany excuse to spook. I’m beginning todoubt my riding ability and now I spendevery ride anticipating what the next‘scary monster’ will be. What am Idoing wrong?”

You and your horse are in a vicious cycle ofanticipating that something bad is going tohappen. And, every time it does happen itreinforces that you both were ‘right’. Yourtension (from anticipation of what 'meant'happen) creates tension in your horse. Whenhe is tense, he is more reactive. That is why hebehaves well for other riders but, is less reliablefor you.You are the one that has to change the cycle.Because your horse can't relax until you do.Here are 3 things you can change to get youboth feeling more relaxed and confident witheach other.

1. Change your breathing. Breathing affectshow you feel and how you feel affects your breath-ing. When you’re feeling stress, nervousness orfear your body and mind have gone into thefight/flight response which is an automatic andunconscious response triggered by your brain.One symptom of fight/flight is rapid, short breath-ing or even holding your breath.

Practice taking slow, deep breaths using your dia-phragm (tummy expands as you inhale and de-flates as you exhale) before you get on your horseand while you are riding. It’s the fastest way tocalm your mind and relax your body. It slows yourheart rate and the release of stress hormones. Bychanging how you are breathing, you can over rideand stop that fight/flight response, gain control ofyour body and mind and feel calmer.

2. Change your thoughts. When you are wor-ried about your horse spooking, your thoughts arefocused on something that might happen in the

CONFIDENT HORSEMANSHIPWITH ANNE GAGE

future. That ‘worry’ is your imagination workingagainst you. Since your brain can’t tell the differ-ence between a real and an imagined event ittriggers your ‘fight/flight’ system. Stress hor-mones are released, your muscles and jointsstiffen, your heart rate increases and even yourvision and hearing are affected. Your horse picksup all of these responses, mirrors them and be-comes more reactive.

Keep your mind focused in the moment by con-sciously bringing your attention to what’s reallyhappening right now. The simplest way to dothat is to ask yourself questions like ‘is it true??Is it really true? How do I know it’s true? Whatif it isn’t true? It’s also helpful to look for a solu-tion rather than focusing on the problem (real orimagined). For example you might ask ‘Is myhorse really bothered by that noise? What can Ido to keep both of us calm?’

3. Change your posture. Your posture re-flects your emotional state. Tension in yourmind becomes stiffness, tension and imbalancein your body. We all have patterns of stiffnessand where we hold tension in our bodies. Wheredo you hold your tension? Is it in your hips,

shoulders, neck, lower back, jaw? You may noteven be aware of the tension you carry in yourbody because you have become so acclimatizedto it that it feels ‘normal’.

Sit tall and feel your seat bones connected intoyour saddle. Drop your legs out of your pelvisreleasing any gripping in your thighs, knees orcalves. Lift and open your chest allowing yourshoulder blades to drop down your back. Keepyour belly button aligned with your horse’s neckso it always aims through his ears. Lift your chinso that it’s parallel with the ground and lookforward. Use your calm, focused breathing torelease any tension from your body. You will bemore balanced, supple and connected with yourhorse. He will mirror this change and also feelmore balanced and relaxed.

By making these 3 changes, you and your horsewill feel more relaxed and balanced together.Your connection and communication will im-prove so that you feel and respond to each otherbetter. You will have more positive experiencestogether where you will build trust and confi-dence in each other.

LAND ROVERBURGHLEY HORSE

TRIALS 2015

Photos by Marc Moggridge -burghleyimages.photoshelter.com

5 MINUTES WITH:JONELLE PRICE

Jonelle, firstly congratulations on your 4th place at Burghley– it must have been so frustrating to have one rail down inthe showjumping but what are your thoughts on this year’sevent as a whole?Thank you! We had a great Burghley, it was a bit chilly but wewere lucky with the ground. It was a privilege to be there andapart from that unlucky fence down, I’m thrilled.

Classic Moet seems such a genuine mare, did you alwaysknow she had the potential to compete at such high levels?She really is, she came to us with no expectations at 10 yearsold. She had done some 2* events, passed through a few ownersand I thought we had missed the boat with her. She then wentfrom 2* to 4* in 8 months and she really has come so far. She’sa great mare and I’m really pleased with her.

How was it watching Tim jump? We saw you clinging to therail in the collecting ring watching his round, it must be nervewracking, is it something you get used to as a fellowcompetitor?Yes, it’s always a nerve wracking moment! The thing is,Ringwood Sky Boy is not a great jumper. He usually has 3 railsdown in the showjumping so we were prepared to have somepoles down. As we were getting ready before the jumping Timand I were discussing it, Tim said he expected rails down andI said to him “Hey, miracles happen at Burghley!” and they did!

So, with two of the world’s top eventers under one roof, dothings get competitive at home?YES! Definitely! Don’t get me wrong, of course I’m delightedfor Tim… but I would have rather beat him haha!!

With Burghley out of the way, what’s next for you both?Well in a minute we are off to Bali for a wedding, we’ll onlybe gone 4 nights, then home to prepare for Blenheim and other3* Autumn events before, hopefully, going to Pau with our topstring horses!

BURGHLEY 2015

We caught up with World number 4 in eventing, Jonelle Price who also finished 4th at this year’s LandRover Burghley Horse Trials. Wife to fellow eventer Tim Price, they have become consistent andsuccessful faces on the eventing circuit and New Zealand team. Our editor Natasha spoke with Jonelleright after Burghley to find out her thoughts on this year’s event.


BURGHLEY 2015


As anticipated, the reigning Olympic andEuropean champion Michael Jung madequite an impression on his first visit to theLand Rover Burghley Horse Trials, sixth andfinal leg of the FEI Classics™ 2014/2015.

The Ground Jury, President Nick Burton, AndrewBennie and Christina Klingspor, unanimouslyplaced him out in front on his first ride,FischerRocana FST, with a mark of 34.2 for aclassy test that was beautifully light, harmoniousand happy.

“She was very relaxed, easy to ride and gave mea good feeling,” said Jung of the 11-year-oldmare on which he won Kentucky, second leg ofthe FEI Classics™ 2014/2015, in which Jung wassecond in the rankings behind his compatriotIngrid Klimke.

Andrew Hoy, who first won Burghley in 1979before Jung was even born, also broke the40-penalty barrier and is in second place withRutherglen on a score of 37.8 after a reliablysmooth and attractive test.

Hoy, 56, is due a change of luck: he fell in thewater on both his rides at Badminton, although

he had a good run when finishing seventh onhis Burghley ride Rutherglen, a powerfulHannoverian gelding, at the recent Aachen (GER)CIC3*.

Another rider who will not remember Hoy’sfirst Burghley was third-placed Niklas Bschorer,who scored 39.2 in a well-ridden test on TomTom Go 3. At 20, he is the youngest in the fieldof 74 runners but his riding style is mature.

Photos by Marc Moggridge - burghleyimages.photoshelter.com

BURGHLEY 2015THE XC

COURSECross Country course designer Mark

Phillips (GBR) set riders an intriguingtest as he reversed the direction of histrack. This means that the Lion Bridge

water complexes, where crowds ofspectators lean over the bridge to geta bird’s eye view of the action, come

up early at fences 4, 5 and 6.

Capability’s Cutting, at fences 9 and10, had possibly the most difficultobstacle on the course, an acutely

angled corner, and at 18 there is thetraditional enormous white oxer at

The Maltings. The famous TroutHatchery (20-21) has five efforts, butriders were not be able to relax afterthat as the notorious Discovery Valley(24 and 28) and Leaf Pit drop (26, 27)

were still to come.

There were loud cheers for thediminutive Rosalind Canter andthe giant 173cms Allstar B. TheBritish pair have made animpressive start at their firstCCI4* and are best of the homeside in fourth place on 40.2after a calm and accomplishedperformance. Canter took overthe ride on the 10-year-oldAllstar B, a Dutch warmblood byEphebe For Ever, in 2012.

“The Cross Country is reallybig!” she said. “I’m slightlyterrified but really excited. I’mover the moon to have done amistake-free Dressage testhere,” she added. “The morenoise and people the better forhim. I’d hoped to score in the40s, so to be nearly in the 30sis great.

“I’ve been comingto Burghley for years to watchas it’s my local event and I’vegot lots of friends here todaysupporting me. I had wanted todo my first four-star before Iwas 30 – I’m 29 and three-quarters - so I’ve just got there!”

As day two approached MichaelJung shared his thoughts on thecourse at Burghley; “The course hereis very different to the other four-stars, it looks tough with lots of upsand downs,” whose past CCI4*successes include a win at Luhmühlen(GER), second place at Badminton(GBR) and third at Pau (FRA). “I willstart out steadily and, hopefully, if myhorses are giving me a good feeling, Iwill be able to go for the time. I’m veryhappy to be here, it’s a fantasticcompetition.”Day two of Dressage brought WilliamFox-Pitt, a record six-time

winner at Burghley, raise thestakes with a brilliantperformance on CCI4* first-timer Fernhill Pimms whichequalled the Olympic championMichael Jung’s score of 34.2 onFisherRocana FST from theprevious day. Their onlymistake in an attractive testwas a fluffed first flying change


All Burghley 2015 images by Marc Moggridge - burghleyimages.photoshelter.com

BURGHLEY 2015which scored fours. “I’m delighted with Pimms;that’s the first time he’s done that test in anarena – there’s four flying changes and that’s abig step up,” said the world number two. “He’sa lovely horse to ride on the flat; he lovesshowing off.” Fox-Pitt took on the ride on FernhillPimms, an 11-year-old by Ard VDL Douglas, in2013. The horse was produced in Ireland byPortuguese rider Duarte Seabra for Carol Gee,who owns him with Catherine Witt. Fox-Pitt wonthe prestigious young horse CIC3* at Blenheimin 2013 on the bay gelding and finished fifth atBramham CCI3* this year.

Riders viewed Capt Mark Phillips’s Cross Countrycourse, which run in a reverse direction to usual,with plenty of respect and a bit of trepidation.“It’s tough out there,” commented Sam Griffiths.“You need a power jumper with some blood. Thisis a course that will find out any weaknesses.”

Fox-Pitt, who planned to take all the straightroutes, added: “Mark has been very brave.Everyone will have their work cut out becausewe’re all starting from a blank sheet with thedifferent direction. The first three fences are theonly nice ones! I think Pimms is ready for it. I

just want him to rise to the challenge and gowell.”

Olly Townend was first out on the course on CrossCountry day at 11am with Micael Jung providinga surprise fall at fence 4 on his joint Dressageleader, FischerRocana FST, where, to gasps fromthe crowd, the mare tripped and fell in the water.But he was masterful aboard his Olympic, worldand European champion Sam, finishing just twoseconds over time to rise seven places to first.“My first Cross Country ride at Burghley waspretty quick – about 40 seconds,” joked the worldnumber one. “I got back to the stables and mybrother said: ‘Never mind, you’ve already goneup a place on Sam!’

“I know the horse very well now, we’ve had manyexperiences together, and he was really fightingfor me and jumping well. This event is such agreat tradition, so it’s wonderful to be here.” SaidJung.

More surprises were in store when William Fox-Pitt,the joint Dressage leader on Fernhill Pimms,suffered a rare lapse of concentration. He hadthe misfortune to be held on course before fence

BURGLEY 2015


23, a big spread on a downhill slope, while it wasbeing repaired. Then, when taking the long routeat the next obstacle, the Discovery Valleycomplex, he galloped past the second elementand had to retrace his steps. “It’s been good andbad,” said Fox-Pitt, who is now 13th with 20.4time penalties. “The horse was fantastic, but I’msad to have let him down and had a mental blank.”

New Zealander Tim Price had by far hisbest Burghley in five attempts and moved intosecond place on Ringwood Sky Boy, just 1.5penalties behind Jung. However, his day was notwithout drama either, as a wasp got inside hisvest halfway round the course and stung him.

“I had this strange scratchy feeling, which I wastrying to adjust,” said Price, laughing. “When I

got back to the finish, I lifted my shirt up and outflew a wasp. He was pretty angry, too!”

Price had one of the fastest rounds of the day for2.8 penalties but there was an unnervingscramble over a fence in the water at the TroutHatchery. “Sky Boy is not the most conventionaljumper and he’s got a long stride for the technicalelements. This was one of those courses whereyou have to change your plan and make decisionson the spot,” explained the rider.

It was a good day for family Price as Tim’s wife,Jonelle, who went into the jumping phase in thirdplace, only 3.4 penalties behind him. Jonelle hada brilliant round on Classic Moet and was one ofonly two riders to finish inside the optimum time


5 MINUTES WITH:WARREN LAMPERD

So Warren, what a fabulous first Burghley for you andSilvia! What was your aim, coming to Burghley this year?Exactly what we did! Our first time at Burghley was just whatwe wanted and after a rough winter we had a slow start to theseason due to family illness amongst other things. I just didn’tknow if she could or couldn’t do it. She had targeted crosscountry schooling, some 1.30 and 1.40 days out showjumpingand we trained with Dane Rawlins for dressage.

How pleased are you with Silvia and her performance at alevel she hasn’t competed at before?She’s a great horse, she is always up for anything although shecan be difficult in the mouth. I rode her in a Mullen HappyMouth Plastic Bit and it was nice to be able to talk to her morethan usual with it. In Cross country I just steered more thanhaving to tell her and in Showjumping she stayed to the bridle.It was new territory and she did so well.Now we just have to wait and see, she’s on about 51 points Ithink so she’s point away from being Advanced. Our aim isBadminton next year but with so many entries they put it otballet so it’s a case of keeping our fingers crossed and hope wemake it. If not we’ll probably aim for another 3*, or maybeSaumur or Luhmuhlen. She’s not the fastest horse uphill soshe’s suited better to flat courses. Of course we’d love to do theNations Cup too! I think Burghley and coaching has made mea more exposed rider for sponsorship, I have a nice youngster7, coming on 8, and would eventually like a string of 3 top levelhorses to compete with so will be looking for the right companyto promote and represent.

Your wife, Suzanna, won the best groom award at Burghley,how did that feel?Well I saw a woman walked around the stables and I thoughtshe was just making sure no one was doing anything theyshouldn’t have been. Turns out she was the judge! One of thethings she mentioned that caught her eye was on the way to theStart box of the Cross Country, Suzy was walking behind mebrushing out Silvia’s tail to make sure it was all pulled outbefore the start. I’m so proud of her being recognised for herdedication and hard work.

BURGHLEY 2015

In the Stirrups editor Natasha spoke with UK based Australian rider Warren Lamperd about hisfeelings on his first time at Burghley, and his wife winning the Vicky Laing STX Equine Fitness Horse

Care award in recognition of the great care and grooming of Silvia, Warrens ride for Burghley



BURGHLEY 2015

of 11 minutes 12 seconds. “My mare was prettyfaultless from start to finish,” she said.

Oliver Townend was also last on course with theexperienced Armada, and had the competition athis mercy, but an uncharacteristic mistake, arun-out in the Trout Hatchery, left the riderslapping his head in frustration and dropped himfrom fifth after Dressage to18th. Riders had beeninstructed at the competitorbriefing to bear in mind theclimb uphill to the hugeCottesmore Leap (fence 13)which came earlier than usualdue to Course Designer MarkPhillips reversing the directionof his track.

Overall, however, it was ahighly successful day, with 42clears from the 68 CrossCountry starters and 55completions. “This is a goodratio for a course of this size,”commented Mark Phillips. “I’ma relieved and happy mantonight!”

With just the jumping phaseleft to come, it promised tobe a thriller!

Jung was under hugepressure coming into thearena as Tim Price hadconjured a beautiful clearround from the improvingRingwood Sky Boy to finishrunner-up behind theGerman for the second timethis year, following Kentucky(USA) in April.

“Sky Boy has been improvingand I hoped that would showitself on the flat,” explainedTim. “He has always been agood Cross Country horse but

to be still here today, in second place, iswonderful. He is not a natural showjumper buthe is learning to try hard at the right moment.”

The talented Christopher Burton (AUS), who hasnever previously completed Burghley, had aperfect day with two clear rounds to finish thirdand fourth on TS Jamaimo and Haruzac.


BURGHLEY 2015

www.inthestirrups.comPhotos by Marc Moggridge - burghleyimages.photoshelter.com

“I haven’t had a very good run here before - Icame here as a young rider from Australia in 2004and fell off at the third fence, so just to see thefinish flags was a pretty good feeling,” he said.Jonelle Price slipped from third to fifth when ClassicMoet hit the first part of the treble, but clearrounds elevated Sir Mark Todd to sixth on Leonidasll, Cedric Lyard to seventh on Cadeau du Roi,Kristina Cook on Star Witness to eighth and bestBritish rider, and Sam Griffiths and PaulankBrockagh to ninth.William Fox-Pitt had a fence down on Fernhill

Pimms but still rose three places to 10th. However,for the first time since the inception of the FEIClassics™ in 2008 he missed out on a cash prize.The Badminton winner finished on the same score,24 points, as Tim Price, but the New Zealandertook precedent in fourth place on the final

leaderboard as, according to the rules, he hadgained his points at fewer competitions.Final Results1 Michael Jung/La Biosthetique Sam (GER) 39.2 + 0.8 +0 = 40.02 Tim Price/Ringwood Sky Boy (NZL) 38.7 + 2.8 + 0 =41.53 Christopher Burton/TS Jamaimo (AUS) 45.0 + 0 + 0 =45.04 Christopher Burton/Haruzac (AUS) 41.2 + 6.4 + 0 =47.65 Jonelle Price/Classic Moet (NZL) 44.9 + 0 + 4 = 48.96 Sir Mark Todd/Leonidas ll (NZL) 41.7 + 8.8 + 0 = 50.57 Cedric Lyard/Cadeau du Roi (FRA) 39.6 + 11.2 + 0 =50.88 Kristina Cook/Star Witness (GBR) 47.4 + 5.2 + 0 =52.69 Sam Griffiths/Paulank Brockagh (AUS) 42.5 + 15.2 + 0= 57.710 William Fox-Pitt/Fernhill Pimms (GBR) 34.2 + 20.4 +4 = 58.6


5 MINUTES WITH:LAINE ASHKER

Hi Laine, how was your flight over?Uneventful! My horse, Al, flew with his groom toAmsterdam and I flew from JFK to Heathrow. I wasso buzzed for Burghley, even more so when I realisedDamien Lewis from the TV show Homeland and hiswife were just 5 rows from us in coach on our VirginAirlines flight. I was impressed because I expected astar like that to be up in first class!

What were your preparations for Burghley, wasthere anything different?It was the standard prep really, Al is a thoroughbredand it’s pretty flat in Virginia (where I come from) so

I did some extra gallop work. We trained with mylong term coach Buck Davidson too. Al is 16 now soI don’t run him as much as I used to, but he knowswhat he’s capable of!

How did you find competing in the UK, was it abig difference between the venues you’re used toin the UK?Well it did and didn’t match up to what I’m used to.The Kentucky Rolex crowds are not as big as the onesat Burghley but the Rolex crowds are louder,especially when you come into the lane home atKentucky! I don’t think it’s that the fans here aren’tas supportive, I just think in the UK they are a morerespectful crowd but also they see this level of thesport more often. The UK was so lovely, reallywelcoming and it felt like everyone broke their backsto help. It was great because at Burghley all the ridersand stabled together whereas at Kentucky the foreignriders are separate to the US ones. We were next toJock Paget, Tim and Jonelle Price and a whole bunchof other great riders and it was like the experience waseven more intense because it was so casual around thestables which I loved!

I probably don’t need to ask, but would you comeagain?Oh yes, next year I’d love to compete here again. Iwas prepared for the event but not prepared for thelevel of riders here. I learned a tonne watching riderslike Pippa Funnell and William Fox-Pitt, it felt like Iwas having lessons in Dressage, Cross Country andShowjumping just by watching them! I’m so lucky tohave such great sponsors supporting me too, betweenFITS, OTTB, Heritage, Bucas and so many more, Ihave the very best equipment for myself and Al. I’dnever have got to this point without my parentsValeria and Michael Ashker, their unbridled support

BURGHLEY 2015Lainey Ashker has a huge following in and out of the saddle thanks to her social media presence andbubbly personality. Having travelled all the way from Virginia, we caught up with her after she arrivedback on US soil to find out her thoughts on the bustle that is Burghley


Dr Jane Williams, Hartpury’s newHead of Animal and Land Sciences,has teamed up with another tworesearchers – Sport Psychologyexpert Dr Inga Wolfman andPsychologist and Biochemist DrDavid Marlin - to produce afascinating study that has beenpublished in a top research journal.

Entitled ‘The role of personality inequestrian sports: an investigation’, thestudy has been published in the‘Comparative Exercise Physiology’journal. It looks at whether certainpersonality types are associated withdifferent equestrian disciplines rangingfrom general pleasure riding, todressage, eventing, showjumping,Western, showing and more. Jane said:“We undertook the study because there

was very limited research in this area inequestrian sports. In other sports,personality has been linked to levels ofathlete and also with the types of sportpeople participate in but we felt that therewas an opportunity to explore the linkbetween riders’ personalities and theirchoice of equestrian disciplines.”

A key finding of the research was that riderswho compete are more conscientious andextroverted than leisure riders, while thoseover 35 tend to be less anxious and moreemotionally stable, which could make thembetter riders.

The study also uncovered the finding thatthose who compete in a discipline likeeventing are generally more open to takingrisks, while dressage riders tend to be moreopen to new experiences, ideas andthoughts.

FIVE MINUTES WITH: LAINEASHKER

has supported my riding dreams and I’d also be lostwithout my groom Lauren!

So what’s next for Team LAE?Right now I’m at a 2* event, riding my groom, LaurenSherril’s mare who is an 8yr old Thoroughbred, thenprep for Fairhill. I’d love to do Badminton next year,

Al is coming on 17 years old now so I want to do asmany 4* events as possible. I just want to enjoy himmore! To go to Kentucky again would be fab, youalways come away feeling so appreciated in our sport.I’d jump at the chance to go to Badminton, even withAl’s age they tell you when they don’t want to playanymore. He’s a great teacher and the safest horse Icould ever sit on, I’ve learned so much from him andcan’t wait for the next adventure.

Follow Lainey on Social Media andonline by clicking below:

Photo by Marc Moggridge - burghleyimages.photoshelter.com

https://twitter.com/LEAshker

https://www.facebook.com/Laine-Ashker-Eventing-167901409933307/timeline/

https://instagram.com/laineyea/?hl=en

www.laineashkereventing.com

WITH TIM LIPS

TICKET TO RIO

So… we came 4th in the team eventat the European Championships,the Dutch team did pretty good atBlair Castle. Sure it was tough toend up just off the podium butunder the circumstances we didwell. We were without AndrewHeffernan and Elaine Pen at full

strength and yes we have stood ourground. Especially in the crosscountry where we kept our lineconstant and showed ourconsistency. It’s really encouragingfor the upcoming year and showsthe team level performanceretention.

www.timlips.nlTicketToRio on Facebook!

www.timlips.nl

www.timlips.nl

WWW.TIMLIPS.NL

TICKET TO RIOThe EuropeanChampionship is over,but in terms of goals,it is full steam aheadtowards the OlympicGames next year.That means behindthe scenes we have towork hard and restlittle but I am sure itwill be worth it! Onjourney from BlairCastle we bypassedthe issues at Calaisand made thecrossing from Hook ofHolland. Fortunately,it went smoothly andwe had no problemswith stowaways.Through the night wewent home and Itrained a few horseson the day we gothome. I was verytired but needed toprepare for the nextevent in Varsseveldthe followingweekend. My fatiguewas not for nothing asI finished first, thirdand fourth, my firstplace with ConcrexBayro who I will stickwith for the RioOlympic Games as hehas better scores inDressage, not tomention he is safer injumping thanKeyflow!

Now I'm preparingfor Boekelo a littleover two weeks. TheBig Boekelo! I amvery excited, sincethe NationalChampionships willbe held, it is afantastic competitionto take part in. Thereis a specialatmosphere and theabsolute worldtravels to our littlecountry toparticipate. Yes,usually it is a coldand wet littlecountry, but now itseems that it mightfinally remain dry foronce. In any case, itis fine weather forthe time being, sothe surface of thecross country is notyet smooth. Myhorses ConcrexVakarlos andVakarlos Brent willgo. For them this isthe first ‘big’ gamefor them and I lookforward to it with fullconfidence! Wish usluck!

TIM


BENTLEY ORIGINALSELUXE GROOMING SET

TRIED AND TESTED

This month we put the Bentley Originals Brush set to the test. This grooming set is ideal for both professional and everyday riders who want to add a touch of class to their stables. The set includes a range of premium body brushes andgrooming tools. This durable range has all the products needed to keep a horse well-groomed, while also creating animpressive, professional appearance. Designed following extensive research, these traditional brushes benefit fromnatural bristles and FSC wood, making them a timeless and unique range. The set includes everything you’ll need tokeep your horse looking immaculate and would make an ideal gift.

WWW.BUYDIRECT4U.CO.UK

● Includes:

●Body brush

●Dandy brush

●Flick brush

●Face brush

●Mane & tail brush

●Sweat scraper

●Hoof & Oil Brush

●Cactus mitt

●Curry comb

●Deluxe carry bag withhandle

BENTLEY ORIGINALSELUXE GROOMING SET

TRIED AND TESTED

We found the brushes very comfortable to use, as well as the overall look theyperformed with precision as expected with a wooden brush. The waterproof lining inthe carry bag was a welcome feature, also the numerous pockets on the bag meantit had more than adequete storage for all of our odds and ends like plating bands andwipes. The set really does have all of the stable essentials you need for any groom atany level and its definitely one we would recommend as a gift or just a treat to makeyour own life easier! It comes presented in a neat box so is ready to wrap if needed!

RRP is £49.99 for the complete set and can be purchased fromhttp://www.buydirect4u.co.uk/

You can also bei in with a chance of winning a set of your own witH Bentley Brushwareand In the Stirrups by signing up to our newsletter over at www.inthestirrups.combefore October 31st!Please note: Mailing list details will be shared with In the Stirrups and Bentley Brushware. We will never give your detailsto any third parties or use the details without consent.

http://www.buydirect4u.co.uk/

http://www.buydirect4u.co.uk/



The Shadowmatt helmet, as with the whole Samshield range, isinspired by premium motorcycle helmet technology and made fromhigh performance materials to offer the best protection and comfortto the horse rider.

The Shadowmatt is customizable, with three shell colours to choose

from - Black, Navy Blue and an optional choice of Crystal Fabric

Swarovski® or shimmer leather for the helmet top. With 28 options

available for trim colour and customisable extras such as flags,

rhinestones or sponsor’s logo, the Samshield Shadowmatt helmetFor stockists contact 01704 823539

Orvisit www.fearnsfarmpartnership.co.uk

FASHION

FASHION

This stunning necklace

combines solid, hand cast,

perfectly formed sterling

silver horseshoes that are

linked together. As you’d

expect from Hiho, each little

horseshoe, measuring

1cm, has authentic detail

such as nail holes and

grooves, to make it extra

special. The bracelet

measures 8” and the

necklace is 16”-17.5” long.

The Exclusive Sterling

Silver Complete Horseshoe

Necklace has a RRP of

£385.

www.hihosilver.co.uk


HI-HO FULL HORSESHOENECKLACE

Take style and performance to thenext level. Made from premiumwaterproof, full-grain leather witha waterproof, breathable GORE-TEXand elegant plaid lining, these bootsare designed to tackle the mosttemperamental of weather.

A 200g Thinsulate Insulation keepstoes toasty and a shock absorbingEVA midsole helps prevent footfatigue. Utilising ATS Protechnology for excellent stability

and foot support, the Berwick GTXInsulated Boots are ideal forwalking and working in the greatoutdoors this festive season.Available in sizes 3 – 8.5, in ebony.RRP £349.99

For more information visitwww.ariat.com or telephone 01367242818.

ARIAT WOMEN’S BERWICKGTX INSULATED BOOT

FASHION

In traditional army green, this waterproof fromAriat is ideal to take you from street to stable!Features include an inner storm cuff, removablehood, adjustable waist to tailor the fit and a two-way zipper. The Honeycomb inner quilting andpolyfill insulation enhances comfort and warmthmaking the Madden Parka perfect for whateverwinter has to throw at us!

RRP £199.99

The brand new Carrots Country CalfSocks are the perfect way to bring atouch of autumn colour to yourwardrobe this season. Featuringiconic countryside animals, the foxand the pheasant, the Calf Socksfeature rustic colours, making themperfect for every day wear whetheryou're heading to town or exploringthe country!

The Carrots Country Calf Socks arepractical yet pretty. A stretchy fitmeans they will fit snugly in ankleboots, wellies, and riding boots, and

will keep jodhpur cuffs and leggingstucked in!The patterned fox and pheasantCountry Calf Socks would make aperfect present for any countrysideenthusiast. Available in gift boxescontaining four pairs, Carrots’Boxed Country Socks will be thegift that you won't want to giveaway!

The Carrots Country Calf Socks arepriced at £5.50 per pair, and boxedsets of four pairs are priced at £14.Available in adult size 4-7.

www.carrotsuk.com


CARROTS CALF SOCKS

ARIAT MADDEN PARKA

TIMOTHY FOXX LAUNCHES WEDDING COLLECTION

MATRIMONY AND TWEED: AMARRIAGE MADE IN HEAVEN?

Tweed fashion designers Timothy Foxxare launching their first ever ‘WeddingCollection’ this autumn. The newcollection is introduced with two beautifuldesigns the ‘Sophia’ and ‘Robyn’ andembodies the brand’s passion for tweedwith their signature twist on heritagedesign.

Featuring a sweet heart neckline and fullskirt, the ‘Sophia’ features a Creamantique inspired lace waistband and isstyled in a beautiful Fern herringboneBritish tweed featuring a gorgeousOatmeal and Mustard plaid throughout.The dress takes on ‘50’s weddingglamour with its structured paneling andfull skirt, which cascades to the floorcourtesy of multiple petticoats and cleverseam placement.

Rosalie Eustace, MD and Creativedirector for the brand explains thecreative thinking about the range:

“We’ve supplied mother-in-laws outfits,groom and best man outfits, hats andwedding favours and for so long ourcustomers have been asking us whenwe were would diversify into weddingdresses. Now, we are proud to offerbrides-to-be our quintessentially Britishdesigned dresses with a touch of tweed,offering something different and totallyoriginal”

Their new bridal service also enablesbrides a very personal experience withRosalie helping to create their dreambespoke dress, as well as stylisticallytying in their entire day from weddingfavours through to their husband to be’ssuit.

The Sophie (pictured) starts at £3500 for a bespokedesign service from scratch. Customisation options areavailable which include tweed colours, length, differentback detailing, lace jacket, head piece etc and price will

depend on the complexity.

www.timothyfoxx.co.uk

FASHION

FASHION

Suitable for all clipping needs this winter, including hogging the mane,

the Avalon Clipper from Wahl is compact, well balanced, quiet and

lightweight, providing 2.5 hours of low vibration clipping powered by a

battery pack that takes just 3 hours to recharge. The low sound and

vibration level is perfect for clipping even an edgy equine, and will make

smartening up a cinch for both the clipper and their client!

Special promotional Avalon Clipper Gift Kits for 2015 include a free

Competition Blade, Detangler and Grooming Brush. If you’re on a quest

to delight the equestrian in your life this Christmas, this comprehensive grooming gift kit will surely delight

on the day - and for many months ahead.

The Avalon Clipper Gift Kit retails at £239.99. For more information visit

Soft padded dressage bridle with aunique cutaway padded head torelieve ear pressure. You can buya noseband, head & cheeks or abrowband separately, or make upa bridle with parts in differentsizes, with a flash, cavesson ordrop, in leather or patent, paddedblack or white. A drop bridle with aSwarozski browband works out as £110. A

Patent flash noseband is£40. Also available as adouble bridle in leather orpatent without abrowband is £110. Rolledsnaffle without browbandis £110.http://www.morgan-

equine.com/acatalog/THE_DRESSAGE_SHOP.html


BUILD YOUR OWN BRIDLE BY MORGAN EQUINE

AVALON CLIPPERS

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FASHION

If you are looking for a sheepskin half pad, whichcombines a natural approach to materials and atechnical attitude to design the Fleeceworks FXKDressage Sheepskin Half Pad exclusively fromShadow Horse could fit the bill! Styled in the finestAustralian merino sheepskin, which is not only superdense and soft, but also far more robust than lambskinand superior in its breathability and overallperformance. The chemically untreated sheepskin isideal for horses with sensitive skin and is also cut

shorter than most on the market, giving the shorter dense hair incredible cushioning qualities, which alsostops the sheepskin matting over time. The thinner hind, which has been carefully tanned to lengthen andenhance the life of the product further adds to this half pad’s appeal, allowing for improved flexibility andbreathability. FXK Dressage Sheepskin Half Pad with plain edge (shown): RRP: £115.00.www.shadowhorse.co.uk

When it comes to keeping dressingsclean and dry, Golly Galoshes areingenious waterproof, breathableand versatile leg gaiters whichdispel the need for additionalprotective bandaging and also helpprevent the horse interfering withthe dressing and help eliminatedirect contact with bedding ordroppings. Golly Galoshes are alsomachine washable, again makingthem a hygienic and practical firstaid essential and feature secure hookand loop fastenings, full length zipwith protective fleece lapel for

security and comfort.Originallydesigned for ridden exercise, GollyGaloshes have also rapidly found ahome in many yard’s first aid kits,due to their clever design.

Prices start from £25.99 per pairMiniature Pony through to £34.99for horse sizing.

www.gollygaloshes.com


GOLLY GALOSHES HELP WINTERFIRST AID EFFORTS!

NATURE MEETS NEW-AGE

FASHION

The ‘Yorkshire Collection’ from Pink Whiskersembraces a gorgeous Oatmeal Yorkshire tweed.The Pink Whiskers Game & Country Bed with it’sChestnut distressed leather interior and Oatmealtweed around the outside and matching boxcushion offering luxury bedding with a bespokefinish (RRP: starting at £295)

The Pink Whiskers Luxury Squeaky Tweed Bone(RRP: £12.00) and The Pink Whiskers LuxuryTweedy Pillow (RRP: £10.00) featuring a Chestnutleather bone are the perfect additions to yourhome and your pampered pooches’ toy basket!

www.pinkwhiskers.co.uk

You may have heard a lot about

seaweed supplements recently,

well now Blooming Pet Products,

sister brand of Equimins, has

brought out its own addition to

the market.

The seaweed used in Blooming

Pet Products’ Seaweed is

sourced from the cold, clear

North Atlantic Ocean, and is a

pure and natural source of over

40 minerals and trace elements.

It can be used to support and

maintain an animal’s

metabolism, energy, immune

system, digestive tract, blood

and endocrine glands. Seaweed

is available in 400g tubs that

have a RRP of £5.90.

For more information see

www.equimins.com


MAKING WAVES WITH SEAWEED

THE YORKSHIRE COLLECTION

5 MINUTES WITH:CARL HESTER

Hi Carl, great to see you, are you enjoying the Nationals thisyear?Well it’s been great. I mean for me it’s actually really nicechange, I’m not riding this year. So I’m enjoying being herewatching everybody else.

And signing your new book, Valegro?Yes signing my new book. So that’s been fun to be able to dothat. It’s just a really lovely atmosphere here and it’s great to behere. So many of the people here I love watching, seeing whois up and coming, helping a lot of people that I teach, that’s

been great to see how well they have been doing.

It must be extremely satisfying seeing your connections succeed?It is, and Charlotte has done well taking the medium class win with Mount St John Freestyle and the grandprix win with Barolo, great for our yard again. So it’s an exciting time for us.

So what’s next for you over the winter? Do you haveanything planned?I’m going to Saumur next week which is why I am not riding herebecause my second grand prix horse Wanado, needs an interna-tional score so that’s why he’s not here. So I’m looking forwardto doing that next week. And then October is usually full ofdemos and has lots of people coming to the yard and seeingwhat’s going on. So it doesn’t stop even though the competi-tions stop, but we are still very busy and getting ready forOlympia in December.

LeMieux National Dressage Championships 2015

Carl Hester was at this years Dressage National Championships at Stoneleigh Park and took a momentbetween book signings and a medal winners victory parade to chat with In the Stirrups about how hisweekend was going and what’s next for Team Hester.

Carl Hester, Natasha and Composer Tom Hunt.

Charlotte, Carl and Fiona before the winners parade.

Observing a riders’ application and proportion of

punishment to reward can be endlessly fascinating,

a great way to learn and very telling of a riders

training methods and riding mindset.

However, before I launch into a

tirade of why you should and

shouldn’t do this and that, I am

reminded of the biblical phrase “let

he who is without sin cast the first

stone”. I have no doubt that we are

all aware that some riders are quick

to chastise their horse. They may

feel angry at their horse, frustrated

because he is not responding

correctly to their aids, resulting in a

jab in the mouth, they may shout or even boot the

horse in the ribs; they may add ever increasing

training aids, harsher bits, more taps with the whip,

thus creating a spiral of frustration and defeat. You

may not be this type of rider, but could you cast the

first stone? Put your hand up if you have never

unfairly chastised your horse. I am certainly not

without sin in this regard. One of the seminal

lessons I have learnt is this:

“I am not a good enough rider

to be chastising my horse that

way!”

I have come to learn that

whatever my horse is doing,

it is because she is receiving

my signals and responding to

them, or because she does

not understand yet what I

want. It is never wilful

defiance and in the past when I got frustrated it was

because I did not understand this. The thinking

rider will notice that a horse does try to please us

in our requests.

THE DRESSAGE TIPSTER

Patricia Pitt is In the Stirrups dressage training advisor. Known as The Dressage Tipster andjoint owner of www.likecrystal.com with her partner Mark, Patricia provides direct and usableadvice to improve your ridiing each month…

Now that I understand this, I feel a little ashamed

that I ‘punished’ my horse for my own failings. I

had a very long way to go as a rider before

discovering that there is no place for anger in

dressage riding (or any riding for that matter) but

particularly dressage because you are asking your

horse to work in harmony with you, to do difficult

moves that are demanding and complex.

Are you sure that your side of the deal is being

upheld? Are you sure that you are absolutely

perfect in your execution of your aids? If you are,

that’s great, give your horse that extra tap of the

whip when he isn’t giving as much as you. For me

and for 99.9% of grassroots riders the answer to

these questions would be no, because when I get

it right, she gets it

right and I get the

result I want. If I

want more she gives

it me, but only if I ask

correctly. 9 times

out of 10 if I don’t get

what I am asking for,

it’s because I haven’t

asked correctly. Stripping back my ego and

listening to my horse’s feedback has made us a

much improved partnership

As for reward, your horse can be rewarded with as

little as a touch, a give with the rein, a kind word in

a low voice, a walk on a long rein, a gentle pat on

the neck. Not a lot to ask for is it?

Then there are those horses that are labelled

“difficult” or “lazy”. This is always the result of a

breakdown in communication between

rider/handler and horse. The horse will sometimes

resort to becoming awkward by shutting down to

all the outside stimuli that are causing his

confusion. I have witnessed this many times when

starting young horses; they get a little overloaded

with information, they ‘shut down’, giving off signals

THE DRESSAGE TIPSTER:

of ‘too much info’ so you have to back off and try

again. Our Lusitano actually got down on the floor

during one of her first lunging sessions, essentially

saying “Sorry, nao compreendem, I don’t

understand your language!”

As for “lazy” horses, in my experience they are few

and far between and often far from “lazy”; they tend

to be sensitive horses whose only way to deal with

the confusion is to ignore everything. How much

positivity is the so called “lazy” horse getting?

Psychology studies tell us that a constant stream

of: "Don't do that - Stop it! - No - Quit that - Behave

yourself" has a detrimental effect on the human self

esteem. For me the logical path says that horses

experience similar effects. By all means use these

terms, but when you get the right response, forget

it the negative, give a positive and move on.

Sadly, too many horses are punished, not for

disobedience, but for not understanding or not

being able to do what was asked of them. The most

unjust punishment for a horse is to be

reprimanded for doing what the rider, unsuspecting,

through uncoordinated aids or lack of knowledge,

asked for and for not doing what they think they

asked. How often do you think that a horse actually

needs to be punished? A truly disobedient horse

has usually been soured by a human and needs

more a different approach or more tactful handling.

On the rare occasion when “punishment” is

justified, for some merely growling at them has the

desired effect, for others strongly applied aids are

usually enough.

If you have enjoyed this article, why not subscribe to my

blog at www.likecrystal.com or follow me on facebook

https://www.facebook.com/TheDressageTipster?ref=hl

Patricia – The Dressage [email protected]

THE DRESSAGE TIPSTER:

5 MINUTES WITH:CHARLOTTE DUJARDIN

Hi Charlotte, you don’t seem to have stopped allday! How are you finding the nationals this year?

It’s brilliant! It’s great, for me to come here with all myyoung horses, 4 and 5 year olds. I’ve had a horse in themedium, the grand prix. It’s great to come to a show andget all my other horses out. It’s always been so much aboutcompeting with Valegro. And it’s nice to have my otherones here and I love that. I love my young horses andcompeting them, seeing where they are going to go. It’salways very exciting.

Fantastic and how are you feeling about the free-style tomorrow, considering that your horse hasnever done it before?

I’ll let you know about that tomorrow!! I mean its Barolo’sthird grand prix he’s ever ridden in his life. And now he’s gotto go and do a grand prix freestyle tomorrow. He’s neverdone a test to music in his entire life; I don’t know how he’sgoing to react. I’m just going to do my best to give himconfidence and hopefully he can enjoy it!


World Number 1 and Dressage superstar Charlotte Dujardin was at Stoneleigh with some of her upand coming rides. After winning the medium and the grand prix classes we spoke with her asking herthoughts on the competition and the freestyle yet to come!

��.��.��

THE PATTEN STANDARD:HANNAH PATTEN

In your final year of Junior competitions? Read Hannahs open letter on what to expect andwhy you should never ever give up!

I am guessing you are reading thisbecause you are in your last junioryear (or you are getting close to it)and the transition from being a juniorto an amateur can be quite scary. Thisis your last chance at competing atRegionals and Indoors as a Juniorcompetitor, no need to fret you can goback as a professional! Going into yourlast indoor ever is going to be a whirl

wind of emotion. You are going to feelscared and nervous, but most impor-tantly you will feel excited. Personally,I believe the most important thing toremember is to have fun and enjoy themoments you have left as a junior.Enjoy each no stirrup lesson as if it'syour last. Don't stress your self out forthe 2:00 AM lessons, enjoy them, Iknow they are what every juniordreads but try and enjoy it. Relax andbreathe and remember why you com-

pete in this crazy sport you love. Walkin that ring with all the confidence inthe world and think to yourself, "I cando this," because positive thoughts willcreate a positive life.On December 1st you will no longer bea Junior rider. Woah what is amateurlife going to be like? Being an amateur,does that mean you get to eat all theOreos you want, because if that's thecase I am sold. It is scary as hell, soonyou will be competing with men and

Find the latest news, competitions, past issues and all about ourregualr columnists over at


THE PATTEN STANDARD

women much older than yourself. It is a bit like school when you are Freshmanit can be scary because of the big bad Seniors. No need to be worried, I doubtthe more experienced equestrians won't bite, I know the seniors in my schoolnever bit so I think you'll be fine!As for my self, this is my last junior year and I ponder day after day what Amateurlife is going to be like. Will I be able to keep my stirrups pleasurably throughout

all lessons? I think when I am officially an amateur I amgoing to super glue my stirrups to my saddle so they can'tbe taken off. If it rains or if its too windy is it now acceptableto scratch? These are all things I am looking forward tofinding out in my Amateur life. Look past the scary part ofIndoors and remember you can always go back as a profes-sional and some indoors you can return as a amateur! Havefun and enjoy every damn second of it, I know I will -regardless of how tired I am.

XoXoXoXo - HP

#TheStandard www.thepattendstarndard.com

Furusiyya FEINations CupBarcelonaThe Belgian team clinched theFurusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping2015 title in the finest of style tonightwith a fantastic performance in the finalround at Real Club de Polo inBarcelona. They threw down thegauntlet whentopping Thursday’sopener in which theypinned Germanyand Sweden intojoint-second place.But it was the Britishwho emerged to fillrunner-up spot thisevening, pinning therampant Dutch backto third when theclock decided thefinal placings. USA,Ireland and Germany were next in line,also separated only by time when theyalso finished on an equal scoreline,while Sweden lined up seventh aheadof Switzerland in eighth.The city of Barcelona certainlywelcomed the worldwith open arms onceagain, and beforetonight’s competitionbegan FEIPresident, Ingmar deVos, made a specialpresentation to MrCarles Villarubi,Vice-President of FCBarcelona whoprovided access tothe world-famousCamp Nou stadiumfor a special photo-shoot ahead of theFinal.The competition more than lived up toexpectations, with fortunes fluctuatingwildly and the result once againdecided by the verylast rider into thearena. The crowdwas spell-bound withspectacular jumpingfrom many of theworld’s greatestathletes and horses,but the Belgianswere the shinieststars of all, withJudy-Ann Melchiorand GregoryWathelet producingtwo of just six clearrounds on the night to clinch it.

Melchior Judy Ann, (BEL) © Dirk Caremans

© Dirk Caremans


DAISY JACKSON DRESSAGE

It has been a really busy month ortwo!

At the end of August we took FürstLarkshill aka Tango and Premier IntoThe Black aka Blackberry/Pigley tothe Under 25’s NationalChampionships. It was both horsesbiggest show yet and there was lotsto see and hear. We had ups anddowns with both horses achievingsome great marks but overallexuberance and high spirits led tofrequent costly mistakes whichbrought our overallscores down. Theclasses were big, asyou would expect,with 30-40 in eachone. We were placedin 3 classes, highestplace 3rd, had to retireseveral times (yesthey really were thatwild) and got somedecent scores in theother classes!

Tango got someabsolutely supermarks, probably thebest yet – all on thesame sheet! However,the atmosphere led tofrequent broncing and leaping – tothe amusement of the spectators whoI could hear ‘oooohing’ and‘aaaahing’ and a couple of ‘wellsat’s’ from the sidelines hehe. I thinkour rounds of applause were more forentertainment value thanachievement but the marks andcomments definitely made the

experience worth it. Blackberry wasmainly put off by the clapping whichseemed to tie in each time with thewalk work! This made our walk tourstense which is where we mainly lostthe marks.

Sheepgate was also a greatopportunity to catch up with mysponsor Lara Dennis from WoldsExclusive Bling who had a stand atthe show for the duration. Shesupported me at the prize givings,offered helpful tips and advice after

each class and presented us with abeautiful double bridle after one ofour classes.

Lara presenting us with a bridle fromWolds Exclusive BlingI also caught up with Kate Radfordfrom my sponsor TopSpec who hada stand at the show. It was nice to

show her some photos of Tänzer whoshe hadn’t seen for a couple of years.She was pleased to see how he hadblossomed from a scrawny baby intoa strapping 17.2hh stunner!I have definitely come away with lotsto work on - mainly with getting bothhorses out in bigger atmospheres andto different venues.

At our first competition sinceSheepgate, it was as if both horseshad been discussing how to makeamends and decided to be on their

very best behaviour(but only in the tests!)We arrived atKingston Maurwardwith both horses andas Tango kept callingto Blackberry whileshe was in the warmup she was absolutelywired! Luckily it wasquiet! Every time wepassed the steward wegot a few words ofencouragement and asympathetic look asBlackberry pogoedaround happilywithout a care in theworld. I have to say Iwas grinning (in

between clinging on) as she doesmake me laugh and I absolutely loveher to bits. However, in the actualtests both horses were super. Berry alittle tense in the first but won with69%, excellent in the second andanother win and new personal best

www.djdressage.co.uk

DAISY JACKSON DRESSAGE

of 75%. Then Tango went on to give mea huge grin by winning both the Mediumand Advanced Medium qualifiers on 69%and 68%. So a first with four out of fourwins and a very happy Daisy!

Final news for this month is thatBlackberry’s owner Tracey Bywater hasgiven me the absolute honour ofbecoming Blackberry’s co owner. Thisreally is a dream come true as I feelBlackberry and I have a really strongconnection and I absolutely adore her. Tofind out that she will be with me for herentire career makes me the happiest girlin the world.

Daisy

Isabel Werth wins inCentral Park, New York

Isabell Werth produced an electrifying dres-sage performance on El Santo to the delight ofthe passionate New York fans who packed thestands to watch the world's best riders com-pete in the U.S. Open Dressage Freestyle,Presented by Axel Johnson Group at the 2015Rolex Central Park Horse Show.Competing under the lights in one of theworld's most iconic locations, dressage tookthe spotlight in Central Park, as returningchampion Isabell Werth defended her title,while first-time competitor and six-time Olym-pian Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfvén rode in NewYork City for the first time. With a score of80.33 Rolex Testimonee Isabell Werth toppedthe scoreboard following her stunning per-formance aboard El Santo."I am really, really happy that we could do ittwice and come back here at this beautifularena under this outstanding skyline. Alwayswhen I start with the music and the pressure,

I feel the spectators are awake and comingwith me. I was really happy with 'Ernie' - itwas a completely good test", said Werth.Decorated dressage rider Tinne VilhelmsonSilfvén of Sweden came second on ParidonMagi competing at the Rolex Central ParkHorse Show. "I'm incredibly excited to behere. As a kid I always loved New York Cityand enjoyed coming here, but I never imag-ined that one day I would have the opportu-nity to ride here," said Tinne. "That was a lotof fun [tonight] and I am going to rememberit for a long time. I am extremely proud of myhorse."Summing up the night, third placed CatherineHaddad Staller said, "Everybody has alreadyput it all into a lot of great words but I think"magic" is the best word to describe it ridinghere; it's a magical feeling to ride in thisatmosphere; it's a magical arena and thecrowd response is fantastic".

Image Credits: ©ROLEX/KIT HOUGHTON

5 MINUTES WITH:SAM RAHMATALLA

Sam, how has your time been here so far?

So far pretty good! I had Seagry Sanay in the medium open at lunch time and she’s avery tricky mare and doesn’t cope very well with atmospheres and todaywas the first time she actually stayed with me in the test and did every-thing without throwing her toys out of the pram. She got 65, but more im-portantly she’s just started to mature now so I’m over the moon with her,and thankfully, she usually wins everything before here and then she getsto the Championships and then is usually last because she loses the plot!Tomorrow I have Seagry Rohan in the advanced medium and she’s greatfun to ride. She’s a great mover and lots of fun. She’s pretty reliable men-tally, although I don’t want to jinx it! But I’m looking forward to riding herin the advanced medium tomorrow morning.I’m having a lovely show, I got here yesterday and thankfully it wasn’training! It’s lovely to see lots of people, I think the atmosphere feels bet-ter, it’s not so tense. Without the big generator (next to the warm up ring)

being there makes quite a lot of difference warming up because the horses don’t feelthat electricity.

What are your plans for the rest of the year?

Well we have to finish the qualifying, Rohan is doing pre St George all year it’s her first season and she’s been doing very well,winning and having good placings. We train mainly anddon’t compete so much during the winter but we have toqualify for the regionals which I think we have pretty muchdone everything for. Really looking forward to winter train-ing!

Widget looks like he is having fun?

Widget loves it! He’s very happy and is a very good compe-tition dog, no fuss. He watches everybody; he’s eyes onthe ground you see!

Chief of security as well? Taking it all very seriously!

He sees off big dogs, little dogs are fine but big dogs… aslong as he’s on the lead and you’re with him he will see offbig dogs but not if he’s on his own!!

Freelance Dressage Rider Sam Rahmatalla was at the LeMieux Dressage Championships with SeagryRohan and Seagry Rohan. Sam works producing all of the Seagry Studs young horses and we caughtup with her between classes with her sidekick Dachshund Widget.


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In the Stirrups - October 2015

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